Michael D Hamersky On Comics Presents His Take On...   The Zone Show Episode Featuring Jack Kirby! As Previewed At the 2015 Comic-Con International!

TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #4039 -   I'm still continuing blogging about items, people, panels, etc. that I saw at the 2015 San Diego Comic Con International.

On Thursday, July 9th at 4:30 PM, in Room 26AB, there was a program / panel on 'The Zone Show:  The Jack Kirby Interview.

You see, In the early 1980s Ray Zone operated a cable access show in Santa Monica, CA. 

It was in October of 1984 that he interviewed Jack Kirby on his show.  To the panelists' knowledge it was broadcast just once in November 1984 to the local Los Angeles audience.  To my knowledge it was just broadcast that one time. Until the 2015 Comic-Con International panel / program.

The episode itself was found in a garage containing Ray's effects after he passed. I understand that it was transformed to digital media before the showing at Comic-Con. So this episode was not seen for over 30 years!

The Zone Show was a cable access show, so the production effects were just a little on the inexpensive side.  The shots of Ray & Jack talking had bizarre artwork around them, and then comic book covers superimposed that had nothing to do with the current topic being discussed.  Although they were Jack's artwork on the covers.

Yet despite the somewhat laffable effects, the stories that Jack told and that Ray listened to were mighty fine to look back on now.  With Jack being gone 21 years ago, this was a pretty good video record of Jack's thoughts on comics and the comics business up to the 1980s.

If you get a chance to view this video or take in the panel at a comic convention near you, you should do it!

Here's the link to the video that I shot of the panel.  Note:  It is just the first eleven minutes of the panel, not the video itself.  Panelists included: Eric Kurland, (3-D Space), Randolph Hoppe (The Jack Kirby Museum),  Lawrence Kaufman (National Stereoscopic Association), and John Morrow (TwoMorrows Publishing) . 

My thanks to those involved that shared this video at Comic-Con!  

~ Michael

NOTE FROM Michael D Hamersky On Comics:  My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now over 4,000 total posts in number!   I do appreciate your continued reading and support of this Blog!

BTW, You can 'follow' this blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app link!   Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button!  And for those of YOU that haven't yet... I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

Note:  My online 'Local' Comic Book Shop (LCBS), carries many different genres of comics, magazines, graphic novels, and comic con promotional items. Possibly even copies of the item(s) that was mentioned here today...!  If I have it, you'll find under the BIG TOP of Comics, at Comic Books Circus.com!     

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written per the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safari, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers serve the page up slightly differently, sorry about that!  The screen display resolution is best seen at the setting of 1024 x 768 on your laptop or desktop computer.  Note:  Your computer's resoulution may be set differently, but the above resolution is the most commonly used resolution at the time of this blog post. 

NOTE: All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.

Comics Creators: If you are breaking into, or already work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email or mail us press releases, news items, and updates that you feel would be of interest to my blog readers. Including YOUR own works! To mail printed items to me for possible review, just contact me. 

 Also, if you are a Facebook member, I would have liked you to send me a 'Friend Request'. However, I have reached the maximum limit of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages already, so I've added a New 'Facebook Fan Page' so that even more of YOU can 'Like' what I am doing, and be interactive with me and others there.  Here is the link to that 'Facebook Fan Page': Michael D Hamersky On Comics! Please click the 'Like' button on that page!

---------------            

      

In Addition, I started a YouTube Channel just before the 2011 Comic-Con International, where I am slowly uploading videos from conventions or other events that we attend that are also pop culture related.  You are invited to 'subscribe' to that channel also!  As found at 'HamerskyOnComics'!

---

Michael D Hamersky On Comics Presents His Take On...   Adventures of Captain Rochester #4!

TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #4038 -    During each year's  San Diego Comic Con International I made sure to visit Scott Shaw's booth on the exhibit floor.

I was there on the first day to check out what Scott had for sale.  Unfortunately this year Scott was a 'No Show' due to illness.

His son Kirby was to be at the booth. Instead when I made it to the booth, I saw George Karalis, who was running the booth.

I've blogged about George several times before, as he is the writer / editor of Rochester Electronics Publications.  That company publishes 'The Adventures of Captain Rochester' which I have blogged about also.

Matter of fact, my youngest son and I had a great time at an off site Comic-Con party a few years back that Rochester Electronics hosted.  (See blog #3196 that my son blogged.  Then see this link to blog #3208 where I shared more photos from the party, including photos of important comic book creators!)  

So I am well aware of the comic book series that George is shown in the photo above holding. 

However, I had not seen that latest issue, number 4, until seeing George again at Comic-Con.  Scott is the artist of the series, (since issue #2), and George was glad to see that I obtained a copy.

Here are my thoughts on the comic book:

The issue is comprised of two different stories.  Both stories are part 2s of stories from issue #3.  Oh, and here is the link to where I review blogged issues #1 & 2.

The first story was co-written by George Karalias & Paul Gerrish, with art by Scott Shaw!, inking by Mike Kazaleh.  I found that even though it was Part 2, and I had read issue #3 with Part 1 quite a while back... I found this continuation to be as entertaining as the first part. 

The second story was also continued from issue #3, and it was also easy to pick back up on.  I believe it is the cartoony art of Scott that made it easy to pick back up on. 

All in all, this issue was a good read!  I like the fact that since this is a promotional comic book, on behalf of Rochester Electronics, that industry tidbits are included on the story pages.  That is because 'Rochester Electronics leads the industry in the fight against counterfeiting!   Which what both stories in this issue are aboout.

My hat is off to these comics creators.  They have continued to make a promotional comic book series into a good read!  

I would give this issue a Near Mint (NM) 9.4 out of a 10.0 comic book grade.

For more info on this series, please see their Facebook Fan Page, and the website for Captain Rochester.

My thanks to George Karalis for bringing this latest issue in the series to my attention at the 2015 San Diego Comic Con International!  

~ Michael

Addendum:  For copies of these four Adventures Of Captain Rochester, I still have a few left at my online comic book shop, ComicBooksCircus.com! 

NOTE FROM Michael D Hamersky On Comics:  My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now over 4,000 total posts in number!   I do appreciate your continued reading and support of this Blog!

BTW, You can 'follow' this blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app link!   Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button!  And for those of YOU that haven't yet... I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

Note:  My online 'Local' Comic Book Shop (LCBS), carries many different genres of comics, magazines, graphic novels, and comic con promotional items. Possibly even copies of the item(s) that was mentioned here today...!  If I have it, you'll find under the BIG TOP of Comics, at Comic Books Circus.com!     

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written per the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safari, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers serve the page up slightly differently, sorry about that!  The screen display resolution is best seen at the setting of 1024 x 768 on your laptop or desktop computer.  Note:  Your computer's resoulution may be set differently, but the above resolution is the most commonly used resolution at the time of this blog post. 

NOTE: All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.

Comics Creators: If you are breaking into, or already work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email or mail us press releases, news items, and updates that you feel would be of interest to my blog readers. Including YOUR own works! To mail printed items to me for possible review, just contact me. 

 Also, if you are a Facebook member, I would have liked you to send me a 'Friend Request'. However, I have reached the maximum limit of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages already, so I've added a New 'Facebook Fan Page' so that even more of YOU can 'Like' what I am doing, and be interactive with me and others there.  Here is the link to that 'Facebook Fan Page': Michael D Hamersky On Comics! Please click the 'Like' button on that page!

---------------            

      

In Addition, I started a YouTube Channel just before the 2011 Comic-Con International, where I am slowly uploading videos from conventions or other events that we attend that are also pop culture related.  You are invited to 'subscribe' to that channel also!  As found at 'HamerskyOnComics'!

---

Michael D Hamersky On Comics Presents His Take On...   Alter Ego #134 Featuring Sol Brodsky!

TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #4037 -    This past 2015 San Diego Comic Con International I made sure to visit the TwoMorrows booth on the exhibit floor.

I was there Friday to pick up the latest issues of the Jack Kirby Collector that had been printed since last year's SDCC.   I'll review blog those later here in this blog.

Then as usual on a late Sunday afternoon, I hit the publishers / dealers for any last minute deals to be had.

I didn't make any deals at John Morrow's booth, but I did pick up a copy of Alter Ego #134 to read. (See photo of John & AE 134 to the left.)

Why?  Well that issue had a cover that was very familiar.  Sol Brodsky was on the cover.  Actually an illustration of Sol drawn by John Romita Sr.  It was the same image I had seen years ago, on Marvel Age #22, when the comic publication was remembering Sol Brodsky soon after his passing.

Remembering how much I enjoyed reading more about Sol, I thought I would give this magazine a read, as on the cover it also stated:  Rememberances By His Friends... John Romita, Stan Lee, Herb Trimpe, Stan Goldberg, Daid A Kraft, and Roy Thomas.  Plus an article by Janna Parker, (Sol's daughter).

So I finished reading it last night.  Pretty darn good treasury compiled by the Editor, Roy Thomas!

On the Table of Contents it showed a 7-Part Section on "Sol Brodsky -  Stan Lee's 'Right-Hand Man".

Part One was the Editorial:  'Better Call Sol' on page 2.

Page 7 was Part Two - "Dad Loved Comic Books"  - An interview with Janna Parker, Sol's daughter.

Part Three was "Sol Was A Great Company Man" - Stan Goldberg's story of Sol. Stan was with Sol during the Timely / Atlas / Marvel years.

Part Four: 'A Eulogy By Stan Lee'.

Page 35 had 'A Few Choice Words On Sol Brodsky' - written by John Romita Sr.

Part Six had "We Need A Lot More Guys Like Him" - Interview with Herb Trimpe on Sol.

And Part Seven had: 'For The Love Of Sol' - David Anthony Kraft worked with Sol at Marvel & also at Skywald.  Interesting stories by David on Sol.

The Seven Part Section on Sol Brodsky was worth the cover price for me!  I had seen credits by Sol Brodsky in the early Marvel years, as he was an inker as well.  I mentioned I had read the Marvel Age #22 back in 1985 after Sol had passed.  Here is a scan of that cover.

Not many 'production' people got mentioned on Marvel Comics pages, but Sol and also Flo Steinberg were a couple of the exceptions.  

I had also picked up a few of the 'Skywald' Comics during its brief publishing period.  'Skywald' was named after Sol BrodSKY and Israel WALDman.  The circulation of those comics and magazines were sparse in the San Diego area during 1970 - 1973, bnut I was able to pick up a few off the newstands.  Here is a link to all of the Skywald publications. 

There were other articles in this issue of Alter Ego. The ones I enjoyed were:

'Seal of Approval: The History of the Comics Code' - Continuing Chapter 6 of Our Serialization of the 1998 Study by Dr. Amy Kiste Nyberg.   This article was very good in presenting its topic.  I viewed good photos of the publishers involved with the Code, as well as comic book issues that either helped change the Code or were published after the Code was revised.  Very good presentation!

Dan Barry & Flash Gordon Part III was okay for me, since it was Part III and I hadn't seen the earlier two parts, it took me a little while to catch up.

Mr. Monster's Comic Crypt column was pretty cool!  The article was on 'Real Clue Crime Stories' comics published by Hillman Periodicals.  I have not read any of the comics in this series, so this was an introduction to me on the series.  

Thre was also... "Alter Ego's Multi-Part Tribute To G.B. Love & RCC - Part 2'.  Five pages on G.B., which I enjoyed reading.

Lastly there was an obit on Stan Goldberg, (1932 - 2014), whose work I had enjoyed over the years, at Marvel & Archie Comics.  I had met Stan at Comic-Con International and took in a panel on him a few years back as well.  Stan was the main colorist during the early years of the then new Marvel Comics, and he chose the colors for the characters.

FCA #193 was included in the back of this magazine, with emphais on Fawcett's Invasion of France.  Captain Marvel comics printed in the French language.

This was a real fun magazine to read!  I would have to give it a Near Mint (NM) 9.4 out of a 10.0 comic book grade.

You can find it online at this link for purchase. 

~ Michael

Addendum:  For further reading on Sol Brodsky... See his Wikipedia entry, and his GCD entry.

NOTE FROM Michael D Hamersky On Comics:  My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now over 4,000 total posts in number!   I do appreciate your continued reading and support of this Blog!

BTW, You can 'follow' this blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app link!   Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button!  And for those of YOU that haven't yet... I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

Note:  My online 'Local' Comic Book Shop (LCBS), carries many different genres of comics, magazines, graphic novels, and comic con promotional items. Possibly even copies of the item(s) that was mentioned here today...!  If I have it, you'll find under the BIG TOP of Comics, at Comic Books Circus.com!     

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written per the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safari, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers serve the page up slightly differently, sorry about that!  The screen display resolution is best seen at the setting of 1024 x 768 on your laptop or desktop computer.  Note:  Your computer's resoulution may be set differently, but the above resolution is the most commonly used resolution at the time of this blog post. 

NOTE: All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.

Comics Creators: If you are breaking into, or already work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email or mail us press releases, news items, and updates that you feel would be of interest to my blog readers. Including YOUR own works! To mail printed items to me for possible review, just contact me. 

 Also, if you are a Facebook member, I would have liked you to send me a 'Friend Request'. However, I have reached the maximum limit of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages already, so I've added a New 'Facebook Fan Page' so that even more of YOU can 'Like' what I am doing, and be interactive with me and others there.  Here is the link to that 'Facebook Fan Page': Michael D Hamersky On Comics! Please click the 'Like' button on that page!

---------------            

      

In Addition, I started a YouTube Channel just before the 2011 Comic-Con International, where I am slowly uploading videos from conventions or other events that we attend that are also pop culture related.  You are invited to 'subscribe' to that channel also!  As found at 'HamerskyOnComics'!

---

Michael D Hamersky On Comics Presents His Take On...   Celebrating 20 Fabulous Years 1995 -2015 Alternate Reality Comics!

TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #4036 -    Back on December 30th of 2010, I blogged about seeing Alternate Reality Comics in Las Vegas, Nevada. (See this link for Blog #3312.) 

I was in Las Vegas for a holiday, but as usual, I checked out a few comic book stores in the area.

While there I met the co-owner of Alternate Reality Comics, Ralph Mathieu. He was kind enough to show us around his LCBS.  It was a great visit! 

Now, back to the present!   Would you believe... That during the 2015 San Diego Comic Con International... Ralph stopped me and said hello on the massive exhibit floor?! 

During our quick five minute meetup, he mentioned that his LCBS was celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year! 

In fact, he pulled out a promo comic book that he had published honoring that fact of hitting 20 years in business.  The photo of that comic book is shown above.

Ralph gave me that copy, and I have just finished reading it last night.

Here's my thoughts on the promo comic book: 

Of course the front cover is a homage to the Fantastic Four #1 issue from 1961.  The Fantastic Four were my favorite comic book series to collect during the 1960s, and I have picked up many comics that have used that famous cover as a homage.

The character in green with Red Vines is Epstein, the Ska Lizard, who is "The World's Most Beloved Comic Book & Entertainment Store Mascot!".  This promo comic book is "...Published for the first time anywhere! A blatant attempt to cash in on comic sentimentality!".

I had seen Epstein during my visit to the comic book shop in Las Vegas.  This promotional comic book gave the 'Origin' of Epstein.  The first character you meet on the splash page is 'Cosmic Vyne', who looks a lot like 'Galactus', (LOL).  The rest of the story is the true origin and how Epstein got to Earth. Transforming a comic book shop in Las Vegas into 'Alternate Reality Comics'!

Not bad at all!   Cute parody!   And on the inside back cover page, a 'Who's Who' page for Epstein.  With a history of the LCBS.  You see, back in 1987 Steve Marino started 'Dungeon Comics'. P.J. Wahlquist managed the shop from 1987 to 1994.  The ownership changed to Blake Phillips shortly after the shop started.

It wasn't until 1995 that Ralph Mathieu purchased the shop and changed the name to 'Alternate Reality Comics'.  That is what the shop is still named, 20 years afterwards!

The back cover had the only 'ad' in the comic book.  All that you need to find the shop in Las Vegas, with address, store hours, online web site, photo of the store owners, (including Katherine Keller),and their own Facebook Fan Page!

This is a pretty good promotional comic book in my opinion!  It hits on all eight cylinders!

Definitely rates a Near Mint (NM) 9.4 out of a 10.0 comic book grading guide in my estimation!

My thanks to Ralph for bringing this to my attention at the 2015 Comic-Con International.  And Congrats on owning the LCBS for the past 20 years!  Let you hang in there for 20 more should you like to do so!!

~ Michael

NOTE FROM Michael D Hamersky On Comics:  My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now over 4,000 total posts in number!   I do appreciate your continued reading and support of this Blog!

BTW, You can 'follow' this blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app link!   Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button!  And for those of YOU that haven't yet... I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

Note:  My online 'Local' Comic Book Shop (LCBS), carries many different genres of comics, magazines, graphic novels, and comic con promotional items. Possibly even copies of the item(s) that was mentioned here today...!  If I have it, you'll find under the BIG TOP of Comics, at Comic Books Circus.com!     

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written per the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safari, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers serve the page up slightly differently, sorry about that!  The screen display resolution is best seen at the setting of 1024 x 768 on your laptop or desktop computer.  Note:  Your computer's resoulution may be set differently, but the above resolution is the most commonly used resolution at the time of this blog post. 

NOTE: All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.

Comics Creators: If you are breaking into, or already work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email or mail us press releases, news items, and updates that you feel would be of interest to my blog readers. Including YOUR own works! To mail printed items to me for possible review, just contact me. 

 Also, if you are a Facebook member, I would have liked you to send me a 'Friend Request'. However, I have reached the maximum limit of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages already, so I've added a New 'Facebook Fan Page' so that even more of YOU can 'Like' what I am doing, and be interactive with me and others there.  Here is the link to that 'Facebook Fan Page': Michael D Hamersky On Comics! Please click the 'Like' button on that page!

---------------            

      

In Addition, I started a YouTube Channel just before the 2011 Comic-Con International, where I am slowly uploading videos from conventions or other events that we attend that are also pop culture related.  You are invited to 'subscribe' to that channel also!  As found at 'HamerskyOnComics'!

---

Michael D Hamersky On Comics Presents His Take On...   The 2015 Ant-Man Film!

TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #4035 -    I am back from viewing the 2015 Ant-Man film!

I've waited to see this ever since it was announced at the 2006 San Diego Comic Con International.

Man, that sure seems a long time ago!  As the 2015 San Diego Comic Con just ended less than a couple of weeks ago...

I've waited with baited breath to see this film, as I am a fan of the original Ant-Man, Hank Pym. 

I missed the 'Man in the Ant Hill' story in Tales To Astonish #29 back in January of 1962.  I started after Hank Pym came back in a superhero outfit as Ant-Man.  That series started in issue #35 of Tales To Astonish.   He remained as Ant-Man until issue #49 when he became Giant-Man.

I still followed Hank Pyam and Janet Van Dyne (as the Wasp!) until they were replaced by the Sub-Mariner in issue #70 in August of 1965.  

So you see, I know Ant-Man / Giant-Man.   I followed the adventures of Hank Pym for years after that.  I didn't much like what Marvel writers did to him... 

There was a much later story where Scott Lang became Ant-Man.  That was just okay for me.  It was nice to see 'Ant-Man' again, but it just wasn't the same for me.

So I kept seeing updates on the Ant-Man film.   Then finally, years later... There were commercials on TV about the Ant-Man film that was coming. 

The commercials looked kind of good.  But still... I wasn't for sure.

Hank Pym was there in the commercials... But as a much older man.  But then again, I've aged a bit since 1962 myself.

Well today I had time to take in the film.  I went to the earliest showing, and it wasn't crowded.

After twenty minutes of upcoming movie previews... the Film started.

There was my Ant-Man!  Old film of a small person could be seen.  Ant-Man!

Okay, good start for me...

Then the story kicked in.  Turned out that my interest in the film grew & grew... I was impressed with the story line.  I really was impressed with Hank Pym's role in the film.  This screenplay was well written!  Which was surprising after the years of development in the script.  See the Wikipedia entry for the film's background.  Please Note:  Spoiler Alert on the Wikipedia entry.  It basically tells all about the film as well as the development of the film.

I enjoyed how Yellowjacket was included in the film.  Hank Pym had become Yellowjacket in an Avengers story many years ago.  Nice touch!

It was good to see Hope Van Dyne in the film.  She was the daughter of Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne.  Plus her interacting with Scott Lang was good to see as well.

So as you can see from the above... I really enjoyed seeing this film!  Enough to give it a Near Mint (NM) 9.4 out of a 10.0 comic book grade.

You can safely take your non-comics friends to see this film.  The script is very well written, and the casting of the characters was excellent.  It was not over the top like the Avengers 2 film was.

My thanks to all that were involved with this film.  It was worth going to the movies to see this film!

~ Michael

P.S.  There are over 2,400 Ant-Man stories.  Click here to see where you can find them.   

NOTE FROM Michael D Hamersky On Comics:  My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now over 4,000 total posts in number!   I do appreciate your continued reading and support of this Blog!

BTW, You can 'follow' this blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app link!   Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button!  And for those of YOU that haven't yet... I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

Note:  My online 'Local' Comic Book Shop (LCBS), carries many different genres of comics, magazines, graphic novels, and comic con promotional items. Possibly even copies of the item(s) that was mentioned here today...!  If I have it, you'll find under the BIG TOP of Comics, at Comic Books Circus.com!     

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written per the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safari, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers serve the page up slightly differently, sorry about that!  The screen display resolution is best seen at the setting of 1024 x 768 on your laptop or desktop computer.  Note:  Your computer's resoulution may be set differently, but the above resolution is the most commonly used resolution at the time of this blog post. 

NOTE: All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.

Comics Creators: If you are breaking into, or already work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email or mail us press releases, news items, and updates that you feel would be of interest to my blog readers. Including YOUR own works! To mail printed items to me for possible review, just contact me. 

 Also, if you are a Facebook member, I would have liked you to send me a 'Friend Request'. However, I have reached the maximum limit of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages already, so I've added a New 'Facebook Fan Page' so that even more of YOU can 'Like' what I am doing, and be interactive with me and others there.  Here is the link to that 'Facebook Fan Page': Michael D Hamersky On Comics! Please click the 'Like' button on that page!

---------------            

      

In Addition, I started a YouTube Channel just before the 2011 Comic-Con International, where I am slowly uploading videos from conventions or other events that we attend that are also pop culture related.  You are invited to 'subscribe' to that channel also!  As found at 'HamerskyOnComics'!

---